The South Dakota Highway Patrol says one motorcycle, headed eastbound, collided with the back end of a Jeep Cherokee at about 4:30 p.m. Monday, when the Jeep apparently attempted to make a right turn onto Highway 16 off South Rockerville Road. Two other motorcycles then became involved in the pileup that followed. Witnesses said they could hear the impact of the collision from more than a block away.

     The four riders on the three motorcycles were transported to Rapid City Regional Hospital, one by Light Flight helicopter. The Highway Patrol says the accident was a "failure to yield situation." Pennington County Sheriff's deputies diverted traffic around the scene of the accident for about two hours using the old route of Highway 16.

Al Van Zee